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Monday, June 4, 2012

Kurt Busch's Pocono weekend suspension is no surprise; NASCAR had no other option

When you tell your child he can’t do something, and he does it, you give a warning.

When they still do it after the warning, they get a punishment.

If it happens again after the punishment, penalties get worse, etc. etc., etc.

This is the pattern with Kurt Busch and his outbursts. The latest stepped up punishment -- he’s suspended for this weekend’s activities at Pocono following his latest outburst against the media -- when he said to reporter Bob Pockrass: "It refrains me from not beating the s--- out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions. But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well."



Officially, NASCAR said Busch violated Section 12-1 of the rule book, actions detrimental to stock car racing and verbal abuse of a media member. Busch's probation was scheduled to end July 25, but has now been extended though the end of the season.
He gave the required media apology, though I doubt he really meant it: "I accept NASCAR's decision. I put them in a box, they had to take action, and it's my fault for putting them in this position. I apologize for the comments I made to Bob Pockrass."

Really, they had to suspend him. The way he has been acting, they can’t just let it slide, and a message has to be sent: Act up, and you’ll pay the cost. Otherwise, probation is meaningless.

NASCAR can’t sit idly by while the media -- an important part of them spreading news about the sport they hope to grow -- are berated and threatened by drivers; especial when the driver in question has done the same thing in the past -- as is the case with Kurt Busch.

I’ve learned this week that despite his ridiculous antics, Kurt Busch still has his backers -- but trust me, they are few compared to those who recognize he needs to get his anger under control and stop confronting media in such ridiculous ways.

Maybe a weekend at home will cool him off and get his mind right.

But I doubt it.

And if it happens again, Busch is on probation until the end of the year, so you can bet the punishment would grow from there.

Who knows? IF a little kid can sometimes learn not to repeat the same dumb mistake, maybe Kurt Busch can too.

FYI
NASCAR doesn’t suspend people often. But ironically, one of the times it did happen was when Jimmy Spencer punched Kurt Busch in the face at Michigan Speedway in 2003.

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This season I was actually pulling a little for Kurt I'm not a fan of his or his brothers but you hate watching a guy who can drive as good as him self destruct. What he really needs is the next time he threatens to kick someones ass is for the person he threatens is to say ok lets go and kick his ass real bad and have none of his crew or anyone get involved then maybe he will think about doing it ever again. He knows that his team or someone will get involved to keep it from getting out of control so he feels no fear whatsoever from doing anything.

June 5, 2012 at 7:18 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Things to ponder:

Was Kurt feeling so good after Talladega that he stopped his meds? That was such a brilliant weekend for him, and heaven help me I was even rooting for him! Cuz I'm starting to think Ryan Newman is on to something.

What kind of meds for mood disorders are allowed in NASCAR anyhow?

Did all the talk of him going to Gibbs get in his head? Self-sabotage or over-confidence leading him back to his old ways?

Poor James Finch. His Phoenix just nosedived right back into the flames.

June 5, 2012 at 8:53 AM 
Anonymous mrclause said...

Maybe something went wrong when he had his ears surgically pinned back. Skin stretched too tight? Stitch went too deep? Has to be some kind of reason for his inability to learn!

June 5, 2012 at 9:03 AM 

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